What do you conclude about a "loud" oil?

[BLND1]

140k

Adjust the valves on a DOHC engine known for valve train noise and a history of exceeding 400k miles on a mix of baby oil and suntan lotion? No, I’ll just drive it till the rest of the truck falls apart.

How many miles are on it? Ever have the valves checked and adjusted?

 

[madeej11]

I've noticed quieter levels immediately after an oil change but it only seems to last for that first day.

 

[18LateModelFan]

I have an oil in my truck right now that is noticeably louder than the original oil that was in it. Same weight but louder and tickier on start-up and I can hear when in a drive-the line-up.

 

[SteveG4]

What do I conclude?

It's loud... vanilla Mobil-1 makes my 5.3L louder than others, such as QSUD.

Are there other differences? IDK.

I do like the quiet idling...

 

[Subie5w30]

Personally, I would love to actually test the decibel level of sound PROPERLY from oil to oil because I like many can swear there's a difference in sound with just SOME select brands of oil. However, I don't believe that sound has anything to do with the oil's performance or protection it delivers, and I believe that even the sound is dependent on motor, wear, and conditions. For example, same oil in and the motor will sound different when you turn it over in 70 degree weather vs 5 degree weather (at least until warm).

As a useless example....in my 3.6 Outback I rarely notice much difference in sound between brands with the exception of Mobil 1. For whatever reason Mobil 1, vanilla anyway, will always sound like a racket even when warmer. I've even dumped it at 500 miles before just because it drove me nuts, BUT I have no worries or concerns that it wasn't doing it's job just fine or that it's whisper quiet in other engines. Just go with what you prefer but as long as it's the right grade and oil type for the application, I wouldn't ever read into sound as anything but an indicator of our anal retentiveness

 

[Subie5w30]

What do I conclude?

It's loud... vanilla Mobil-1 makes my 5.3L louder than others, such as QSUD.

Are there other differences? IDK.

I do like the quiet idling...

LOL! Same here and just wrote the same thing regarding my experience with Mobil 1. No clue as to how or why it sounds the way it does in my motor but I have no real concerns what so ever in terms of protection etc. It's just that loud and clanking type of idling isn't my preference lol.

 

[4WD]

I knew this thread would bring out the same old nonsense and not one ounce of technical reasoning attached to these same old tired claims
But these are the kinds of threads that go on and on until bickering gets it locked

 

[SteveG4]

I knew this thread would bring out the same old nonsense and not one ounce of technical reasoning attached to these same old tired claims
But these are the kinds of threads that go on and on until bickering gets it locked

My ears are more technical than yours!

 

[ZeeOSix]

I knew this thread would bring out the same old nonsense and not one ounce of technical reasoning attached to these same old tired claims
But these are the kinds of threads that go on and on until bickering gets it locked

Where's the technical measurements, data and reasoning why engines would sound exactly the same regardless of what oil was used?

 

[TheLawnRanger]

That looks like it would go well with a bowl of corn flakes.

 

[4WD]

Where's the technical measurements, data and reasoning why engines would sound exactly the same regardless of what oil was used?

Not the point and you know it … I’m not the one making the same old claim about a single decal on a bottle

 

[jimbrewer]

Aren’t there minor viscosity differences between oils at the same nominal grade?

Any difference might be as simple as that.

 

[MrPlow]

Going to a 5w30 Pennzoil HM oil in my Sienna made a huge difference in engine noise, especially for the VVT rattle that would happen on cold starts on all other oils up until going to the Pen HM. Also seems to have reduced the ticking a bit as well, along with slowing down the slow leaks along the valve cover gasket. Before, I would get the cold start VVT locking pin rattle on 9/10 cold starts. I have not once heard the VVT rattle since switching to the HM oil.

Regardless if there is any difference to the rate of engine wear, I really like not having to hear cringey noises coming from my vehicle.

 

[BLND1]

I conclude FAR more about people who think they can discern a difference in engine noise between oils than I do the oils themselves.

 

[MrPlow]

I conclude FAR more about people who think they can discern a difference in engine noise between oils than I do the oils themselves.

I could see if someone was putting in a new oil and was already primed to expect a quieter engine, then there could be a lot of bias. I personally wasn't expecting any change in engine noise at all and only realized it because the noises I do hear are VERY obvious, especially VVT rattle, which is common on many engines.

 

[wdn]

I was using Mobil 1 for years on my Gen 1 Tundra and the engine became noticeably quieter after I switched to Castrol Edge EP in the same 5W30 grade. There’s always few guys on here who will argue black is white, that much never changes. I don’t know why it quieter and really don’t care why, but the Castrol product has been quieter in my truck.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Not the point and you know it … I’m not the one making the same old claim about a single decal on a bottle

What is your claim ... that nobody's ears are good enough to discern a difference in engine noises? That's what I'm seeing, so I simply ask show data that shows why no engine noise difference would ever exist dependent on the oil viscosity used.

 

[4WD]

What is your claim ... that nobody's ears are good enough to discern a difference in engine noises? That's what I'm seeing, so I simply ask show data that shows why no engine noise difference would ever exist dependent on the oil viscosity used.

I’m addressing an ageless old claim on this site.
You don’t really notice one brand gets singled out with noise claims? Ok, it’s Mobil 1.

Your question ? I don’t know of such a study … but (as posted before) I DB tested a Ford engine on 4 oils:
Lowest to highest noise:
Mobil 1 0w40
Mobil 1 5w40
Mobil 1 5w30
PUP 5w30

For the rest … let’s attempt to explain why Mobil gets hit with this … often with no specific formula mentioned
What is in motor oil ? Base oil and additives. M1 is famous for using several base stocks to build base oil. Really no two combinations alike. They supply a couple dozen formulator companies like Warren, Valvoline, and the boutique companies. Yet it’s always a general claim about Mobil 1 alone.
They meet the same SAE/API numbers and meet many OEM approvals. In fact they are FF in many high end vehicles … guess they prefer noise when asking six figures for a car.

Is it the additive pack ? … Well, Shell and Mobil share that company … pretty sophisticated too … but, don’t see Shell singled out here - just M1 and no attempts at why that is …

You mentioned ears ? Well, that’s not an instrument that OSHA uses to measure noise … that’s what they hope to protect and ears are often in decline. Many here have had hearing tests and see one ear is better than the other … or that each person is better at hearing one frequency - but not another …
Even in acoustic measuring equipment there’s a sender and receiver … must be calibrated often …

 

[ZeeOSix]

^^^ Some people have very sensitive hearing, and they are using the same pair of ears in a before noise listen. You've tested the noise level with a meter, and seem to verify what many here have similarly said using their ears. I've noticed the engine noise went down in two vehicles when switching from Mobil 1 to another brand in the same viscosity.

 

[4WD]

^^^ Some people have very sensitive hearing, and they are using the same pair of ears in a before noise listen. You've tested the noise level with a meter, and seem to verify what many here have similarly said using their ears. I've noticed the engine noise went down in two vehicles when switching from Mobil 1 to another brand in the same viscosity.

Why do you think that is ?